Public Comments

This plan will limit over 80% of the state to only 25% of the voting power (2/8 representatives). This concentrates the power to decide our future as Coloradoans to two densely populated areas, Denver Metro and Boulder. These two areas, while perhaps the largest population centers, are in no way representative of the morals, ethics, and political views of the rest of the 80 per cent of Colorado. Redistricting and representation need to be decided by geographical area and land ownership by the net producers in our state, farmers and ranchers, and not by the number of net consumers of public dollars, ie., the two large metro areas.

I ask that the Commission return to the maps as shown in June rather that the current ones which prioritize the Denver Metro area. We have enough "Tyranny of the Majority" now. Please redistrict to give rural/agricultural/small towns a voice in Colorado affairs! Thank you

The proposed redistributing for Ft. Collins is counter to the interests, economic needs, cultural climate, social and environmental concerns that represent many of the people of this community. The concerns of the Eastern plains and western rural and agricultural areas are very different than those along the front range where population growth, water issues, climate change, the needs of our university community and the sane development of this urban corridor dominate the discussion. Our needs align closely with Boulder County and other communities along the front range. the proposal to align us with the easter and western portions of the state do not match what we citizens desire and finding a representative voice in congress is essential to our goals and well being. PLEASE reconsider this alignment and allow us to continue to be served as we have been for the past ten years by a representative who understands the problems and needs of our growing communities. Redistricting should serve to coalesce a community of people, not divide it. as we struggle with urban issues we need to be joined with others who are dealing with similar issues. Thank you for considering these thoughts as you make your recommendations. Sincerely, Toni Farquhar

I want to thank the commission for good work on this. I fully support the first staff plan map as attached. As a resident of CD3 (Ouray County) the plan you have submitted makes sense and it does a good job of geographically grouping like interests. Steve Hilbert

I am a resident of Colorado Springs (El Paso County) and wish to ask the commission to draw fair redistricting maps to benefit all Coloradans. I don't want to have more laws infringing on my Second Amendment. This is very important to me. Frank Castellano

I feel that putting Boulder County with its 300,000 residents in the Congressional District covering the Western Slope would make the proposed district a Front Range controlled district and the views and needs of the Western Slope would not be represented when a single Eastern Slope County would have the majority of the votes in the District. The needs of the Western Slope are significantly different than those of Boulder County, The Western Slope is composed of small rural communities whose primary interests and incomes come from farming, ranching, guiding and outfitting. Where Boulder County is in the I25 corridor and it's needs and day to day activities are more in line with Denver Metropolitan Area rather than the small communities of the Western Slope. A large portion of Boulder County serves as a bedroom community for the Denver Metropolitan Area rather than small ranching, farming, guiding and outfitting communities. The pace of life in the Western Slope Communities is much slower than the hustle of Boulder County.

What changed? Your first redistricting map must have been decided upon for a reason. This redistricting should be about what is best for our community and county. Now this change has physically divided Summit County!? Please do not divide our county. I live on one side of Highway 9 represented by one district and my friends across the highway represented by another? Does this make any sense? Summit County is more aligned with Eagle with our shared ski and tourism industry. We are not a college town or a big urban center. We have the same issues of forest & fire mitigation, snow, ice and avalanche control as Eagle and the western slope. We have the challenges of high costs of living with housing shortages for seasonal workers. I am asking this redistricting Commission how you came up with your initial plan that obviously made sense or you would not have recommended to us? Now splitting Summit County to tag on to the front range makes no sense. I urge you to reconsider and go with your original plan. Thank you.

What changed? Your first redistricting map must have been decided upon for a reason. This redistricting should be about what is best for our community and county. Now this change has physically divided Summit County!? Please do not divide our county. I live on one side of Highway 9 represented by one district and my friends across the highway represented by another? Does this make any sense? Summit County is more aligned with Eagle with our shared ski and tourism industry. We are not a college town or a big urban center. We have the same issues of forest & fire mitigation, snow, ice and avalanche control as Eagle and the western slope. We have the challenges of high costs of living with housing shortages for seasonal workers. I am asking this redistricting Commission how you came up with your initial plan that obviously made sense or you would not have recommended to us? Now splitting Summit County to tag on to the front range makes no sense. I urge you to reconsider and go with your original plan. Thank you.

-------------------------- Stop Gerrymandering --------------------- Problem in voting systems is caused by ‘population centers’, big cities and college/university towns -- rule over all. The rural areas are overwhelmed by ‘liberal population density’. Change system to counties being the focal point vice population density. Recommend to solve Colorado’s liberal controlled population center (Denver/Boulder) problem: - 100 members in Colorado state legislature; 35 Senators, 65 Representatives. - 64 counties in Colorado - Give each county one seat in the House, the 65th seat could be shifted into the Senate (or made at large). - That leaves 36 seats in Senate; give one senate seat to each two contiguous counties = 32 senate seats distributed among the counties -- example, start in NW corner of state and work south or eastward -- link two contiguous counties for a Senate seat - Assign remaining 4 seats distributed among 4 largest populations centers? -- Or distribute geographically 1 per quadrant of state? -- Four largest counties by population would get one additional seat (e.g., Denver, Boulder, El Paso, plus whichever county is next.) - Proposal: Implement an ‘electoral college’ type system to select the governor in place of statewide popular vote which gives advantage to big liberal population centers. -- Why? --- Outside money that flows into this state to buy elections using millions of dollars for media pushes and advertising from places like CA and NY, or even foreign donations. --- Distributing the selection process over the state might make this more difficult for the special interests. -- Each county gets one single ‘Elector’ -- Counties with over 100,000 citizens gets a second ‘Elector’ (current population would mean 10 counties get a second elector) -- Total of 74 electors, line of demarcation for governor could be ‘40’ electors required” Congressional Redistricting: 8 districts, 64 counties….how about 8 counties per district; counties to be contiguous; geographic regions I don’t hold out much hope for this as those in charge don’t want change. [Think of why the Electoral College works; apply on state level!]

I have seen on many pages the Boulder will be added into the 3rd district why is this happening? Boulder and the western slope are not the same nor have they ever been this makes no sense other than a sort of political gain.